Humidifier



c. A. OLsoN 1,976,364

HUMIDIFIER Filed Jan. so, 1931 s sheets-sheet 1 Inf/@Marv f (tai-[d5 Ji. SOQ..

ct. V9, 1934.

Oct. 9, 1934. Q A )LSONl 1,976,364

HUMIDIFIER Filed Jan. 30, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Hllllllmll Oct. 9, 1934. C, A. OLSON 1,976,364

HUmDIFIER Filed Jan. 30, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 5- 1759. 7 9 1 f mr fl llllllll/llllll/ f all 5 Patented Oct. 9, 1934 1,976,364 HUMIDIFIER Charles A. Olson, Geneva, Ill., assignor to Crane Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application January 30,

1931,l Serial No. 512,249

11 Claims. (Cl. 257-180) This invention relates to a humidifying apparatus and more particularly to what may be termed a humidifying radiator which is adapted to both heat a room or other enclosure and support a humidifying medium in close proximity to the heating coils of the radiator. In this respect the invention is similar to the humidifying apparatus disclosed in the Doherty Patent No. 1,760,976 issued June 3, 1930 and is an improvement upon this type of radiator.

1t is the purpose of this invention to provide a radiator, which is at the same time a humidifier, as disclosed in the above mentioned patent which involves a minimum number of parts, each of which is substantially a standard part of uniform construction which may be stocked inquantity and from which humidifying radiators may be assembled to any desired capacity.

1t is also the purpose of this invention to provide a humidifier having similar or standard parts which may be manufactured upon a standard radiator section finishing machine.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a humidifier of standard similar parts arranged to give maximum heating and humidifying capacities.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a humidifier constructed to permit inspection and cleaning without disassembling.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a suitable base or tray section upon which the radiator may be mounted as a structural part thereof.

Further objects and their resultant novel functions and structural details will be apparent from the following description given in connection with the drawings in which:

Fig. l is a vertical transverse section through a six section humidifying radiator takenon different vertical planes and with portions cut away.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a bottom or end section,

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the end section shown in Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is an end elevation trated in Figs. 2 and 3, l

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of an intermediate section,

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section on line Of Fig. 2,

Fig. 7 is a plan of the base or tray section,

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the base or tray section,

Fig. 9 is a section on line 9 9 of Fig. '7, and

Fig. 10 is a transverse vertical section through 45 of the section illusa section of the passage therethrough illustrating a further improvement.

As can be seen particularly from Fig. '1, the humidifier or humidifying radiator illustrated. comprises in general six superposed hollow heating sections includingve intermediate sections 1 and a bottom end section 2. .The sections are arranged horizontally rather than vertically as is usual in the standard radiator construction, and are connected together to receive a heating medium, the entire assembly being supported upon a base or tray-member 3. The connections to the adjoining sections are off center with respect to the section and the sections are staggered as will be explained hereafter more fully. Each section is provided with a tray-like depression upon its upper surface adapted to receive a humidifying medium such 'as water delivered into the uppermost section from which it drains successively into the lower sections being collected and drained v off through the base. The sections are all similar with the exception that one section, usually the bottom end section, is tapped at its ends to provide inlet and outlet connections although the .tapping on the top section may be utilized for connections if desired.

Considering each section in detail and describing first the bottom end section 2, particular reference is made to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, from which it will be seen that in the illustrated embodiment of this invention the sections are generally rectangular in shape and are hollow to receive a heating medium. The peripheral wall is extended upwardly upon the upper faceas at 6 in the form of a flange or rim lto provide a tray-like depression 7 for retaining water. The center of the section is cored out to provide two spaced openings 8 and 8a joined by the inner peripheral wall 9. This inner wall is also raised to complete the depression '7.

At each end the section is provided with a laterally projecting boss 1l extending above the section to provide a connection to adjoining sections, the boss being threaded to receive ther usual nipple 10. The section is also provided at each end 100 with a solid boss 12 which projects below the section and is tapped as at 13 to provide means for securing the humidifier when assembled to a tray or base section, later to be described. The bosses 11 and l2 are oifset laterally to one side of the 105 longitudinal center line of the section for `purposes which will hereafter appear.

Between the openings 8 and 8a the section is provided with a passage 14 therethrough disposed upon one side of the center line of the sec- 110 tion to permit drainage of the water within the tray to the base section therebelow. A raised rim 15 surrounds the opening upon the upper surface of the section to retain a slight level of water within the tray. The rim 16 is lower than the rims 6 and 9.

In order to prevent fouling of the passage 14 to the point of closure due to the formation of scale, the passage is made of substantial area. To permit cleaning of the passage when the section is assembled with others, the passage may be disposed suiiiciently olf center or is preferably formed with its axes inclined to the plane of the section and also inclined from a vertical plane when thel section is assembled with others to make upa humidifier to permit the passage therethrough of a cleaning tool. The passage 14 is preferably, although not necessarily as in the illustrated ernbodiment, dened in part by opposite parallel walls 16, the walls being parallel to the axes of the passage, that is, they are inclined to the plane of the section. The angle of inclination, the distance between the walls .16 and the position of the passage within the section are all related in such a manner that the planes of the Walls 16 if continued would not intersect the overlapping portion of the adjoining section-when assembed. This permits the entry of acleaning tool through the passages after the sections are assembled.

In order to permit convenient entry rand egress of the heating medium, the sections are provided with end bosses 17 tapped as at 18 although the other tapped openings may be utilized for this purpose.

The remaining vor intermediate sections are identical to each other and are substantially like the bottom end section just described. As previously stated in connection with the end section, the remaining sections are hollow and generally rectangular in shape. The outer peripheral wall 6 is extended above the general plane of the seotion as is the inner peripheral wall 9, as was described in connection with the end section to provide a water retaining depression '7. The intermediate sections lare also provided with end connecting bosses 11 and 12a, each boss being tapped to vreceive a connecting nipple by which the sections are joined together, the bosses being offset laterally from the center line of the section.

vThe intermediate sections are also provided with an inclined passage y14 therethrough surrounded upon the upper surface by a slightly raised boss 15 similar to the passage 14 heretofore described. In the case of the intermediate sections, the ends thereof need not be provided with laterally projecting inlet and -outlet connection bosses vsimilar to 17 as are the end sections.

A base `or stand for supporting the assembled humidifying radiator is provided as is shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9 and comprises a rectangular traylike member 19 cored out at the center as at 21 and having an outer peripheral upstanding edge 22 and an inner peripheral upstanding edge 23. The tray is of a width preferably at least equal to the total width of the assembled sections and is provided at each end withl a raised boss 24 recessed as at 26 to receive the bosses 12 of the end section. The bosses 24 arealso lbored as at 27 to receive securing bol-ts 28 which enter the tapped hole v13 at each end of the end section to secure the assembled humidifyi-ng `radiator to the base. The base is also provided with four legs 29 projecting downwardly from the Vunder surface thereof which serve to support the base and the assembled humidifier. The base is also provided with one or more openings 31 therethrough to which connections may be made to carry off any water that may reach the base.

The assembly of the various sections is best illustrated in Fig` 1. In this gure a humidier comprising five intermediate sections and one end section is illustrated. As can be seen, the five intermediate sections are arranged above the bottom end section in staggered relation by reversing the successive sections end for end. The sections are all arranged with their tray-like depressions upwardly and offset laterally toward alternate sides, the latter being due to the reversal end for end. This oiset relation is possible even though the sections are similar due to the fact that the connecting bosses are offset laterally Vw'ithrespect to the center line of the section. The communicating passages or apertures 14 being all disposed upon one side of the center line of the section will deliver any surplus water to the section therebelow at a point upon the opposite side of the raised wall 9 lto the opening 14 in the section receiving the water. It is obvious that if it is desired to reduce the humidifying eifect of the radiator and increase its heating effect ysome of `the intermediate sections need not be .supplied .with water.

It is'to be noted that due to the arrangement of the connecting bosses and the intercommunicating passages, the sections may all be constructed identically alike which will permit them being made upon the same machine. The sections thus madeupon the same machine may be carried in stock and a radiator or humidifying radiator of any desired capacity may be constructed from these units or sections. It is understood, of course, that water is supplied to the depression in the top or any other desired section from any suitable source vand through any suitable regulating device, not shown.

In order to prevent any possibility of noise due to the passage of Water from one section to the next lower section there may be provided a socalled hush tube or nipple 32. This nipple is circue 1 lar in section and terminates in an elliptical ange 33 of proper contour and varea to engage the side walls of passage 14 to suspend the nipple therein. The nipple is of sufficient length that when installed it will dip into the tray portion of the section below and project into the water therein. This tube will Aeffectively eliminate any dripping, gurgling or other noises due to the passage of water from one section to the other .and

is readily removable for inspection and cleaning.

The entire humidifier or humidifying radiator may be inclosed in a cover 34.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that there is provided a humidifier comprising a humidifying radiator and base therefor in which the sections or units are of what may be termed standard .size and structure, and thereby may be manufactured economically in mass production. This feature permits of great exibility in assembling radiators of different capacities. The sections even when assembled may be readily cleaned by the use of suitable cleaning tools. The humidifier thus constructed may be substituted for the usual non-humidifying radiator without the loss of any appreciable amount of heating capacity and with considerable increase in comfort due to the humidifying action.

J- in one surface thereof to receive a invention as defined in the claims appended hereto.

1. A humidifier comprising a plurality of spaced superimposed hollow heating sections connected together to receive a heating medium, said sections being arranged horizontally and formed with depressions upon their upper surfaces to receive a humidifying medium and a base section of greater width than said heating sections underlying said heating sections, said base section being provided with supporting feet upon its under side and a depression upon its upper side to receive any surplus humidifying medium.

2. A humidifier comprising a plurality of spaced superposed hollow heating sections similar in size and connected together to receive a heating mediurn, said sections being arranged horizontally and formed with depressions in their upper surfaces, certain sections thereof being offset in a lateral direction and a base section of greater width than said heating sections underlying said heating sections, said base section being provided with supporting feet upon its under side and a depression upon its upper side to receive any surplus humidifying medium.

3. A humidifier section comprising a hollow heating section adapted to receive a heating meium and having a tray-like depression formed humidifying medium, said section also being provided with connecting bosses projecting laterally from said section adjacent each end thereof said` connecting bosses being offset to one side of the longitudinal center of the section.

Ai. A humidifier section comprising a hollow heating section adapted to receive a heating medium and having a tray-like depression formed in one surface thereof to receive a humidifying medium, said section also being provided with connecting bosses projecting laterally from said section adjacent each end thereof, said connecting bosses being offset to one side of the longitudinal center of the section, said section having an aperture through the tray portion disposed to one side of a line connecting said connecting bosses.

5. A humidifier section comprising a hollow heating section adapted to receive a heating medium and having a tray-like depression formed in one surface thereof to receive a humidifying medium, said section also being provided with connecting bosses projecting laterally from said ,section adjacent each end thereof, said connecting bosses being offset to one side of the longitudinal center line of the section, said tray-like depression being longitudinally divided by a partition wall.

6. A humidifier section tially rectangular hollow an air passage therethrough comprising a substanheating section having and adapted to receive a heating medium, said section being formed with a tray-like depression upon one surface thereof surrounding said air passage to receive a humidifying medium, said section also being provided with connecting bosses projecting lateraily from said section adjacent each end thereof, said connecting bosses being offset to one side of the longitudinal center line of the section, said section having an aperture through the tray portion disposed to one side of a line connecting said connecting bosses.

'7. A humidier section comprising a hollow heating section adapted to receive a hea-ting medium and having a tray-like depression formed in one surface thereof to receive a humidifying medium, said section also being provided with connecting bosses projecting laterally from said section adjacent each end thereof said connecting bosses being offset to one side of the longitudinal center of the section, said section being further provided with a passage through the depression therein, the axis of said passage being inclined to the plane of the section.

8. A base for a humidifier comprising a traylike member adapted to receive a humidifying medium having supporting legs projecting from one surface thereof, the other surface being provided with bosses having recesses therein adapted to receive and engage portions of a humidifier section.

9. A humidifier comprising a plurality of spaced superposed hollow heating sections oonnected together to receive a heating medium, said sections being formed with depressions in their upper surfaces, and arranged horizontally, the 11o depressions of each section being provided with a passage leading to the succeeding lower section and a tube extending from said passages into the depression in the succeeding lower section.

10. A humidifier comprising a plurality of 115 spaced superposed hollow heating sections connected together to receive a heating medium, said sections being formed with depressions in their upper surfaces, and arranged horizontally, the depressions of each section being provided with 120 a passage leading to the succeeding lower section and a removable tube extending from said passages into the depression in the succeeding lower section.

1i. A humidifier comprising the combination of a plurality of spaced superposed humidifying sections similar in size, said sections being formed with depressions in their upper surfaces and being connected together to receive a hunudifying medium, said sections also being arranged horizontally with the successive sections offset laterally, alternate sections thereof being in alignment, with a hollow heating section disposed below said humidifying sections and connected to receive a heating. medium.

CHARLES A. OLSON. 

